Wow! I made it through my son’s graduation ceremony and party, and it was all awesome  even better than I had anticipated. My legs hurt and my eyelids were heavy, but it was all good.

So, first for the details. I had a lot of shredded turkey left, but “Grandma’s beans” (my mom made the best beans  just throw everything in with the beans, hamburger, and bacon  whatever you have in the fridge, cupboards) were gobbled up; pasta salad leftovers were minimal, and the individual fruit pizzas were a big hit, as well as the ice cream machine.

I observed kids head to the ice cream machine several times for another helping of ice cream and the toppings.

In fact, my nephew put all the toppings available on his helping. I am not sure what it looked like, but I think he liked how it tasted.

Yep, I would do the ice cream machine again. It was worth the time to pick it up and return it. Making the ice cream was very simple and quick.

We also had an awesome weather day. It was in the 60s, and mostly sunny with a slight breeze  perfect for food and drink upkeep, and there were no bugs.

Kids, big and little, played various games outside  bean bag, volleyball, badminton, soccer, and drawing with chalk. Some of the younger children had a tea party on the front porch.

I have a vintage children’s table and chairs with a tea set, just ready to be used. At the end of the day, I found remnants of grass and lilacs in, and on the miniature plates, bowls, and tea cups.

I remember playing with the set with my own children, and myself when I was a child.

I just smiled when I was picking up at the end of the day. I have a lot of vintage (old) stuff around my porch and in the gardens, just ready to be used and enjoyed.

Friends and family wrote various memories down in the “Memory Jar,” and wrote pieces of advice on the canvas board that was decorated to look like a piece of lined paper (my niece did this for my son, the graduate). It was really cool, and something he can easily take with him when he goes off to college at the end of the summer.

My son did a nice job greeting and reminiscing with the guests, and many people offered well wishes and congratulations. It was all so nice and humbling.

Friends of my son and me even stayed and helped take down and clean up, on their own initiative. Those are some friends!

It was so fun, reading all of the cards that were given to him and looking at the fun and creative gifts that were given to him. He received a pizza box that had dollar bills taped in the shape of pizza slices and coins taped on for the toppings. It was so cool.

Well, there it is. My first graduation party, complete and over, with so many wonderful memories captured, and great pictures, too.

A high school girl was French braiding a fellow male graduate’s lovely hair  I captured this moment, and will send him a picture.

I wish all of the graduates around the area the best in their endeavors, and as my son said in the closing speech he gave, “Do something that makes you happy.”